NORTH CARLTON TERRACE
Craig Perry Peter Dann Architects- Peter Dann 0403011163
OBJECTIVES Renovate and extend a Victorian terrace house for a carbon constrained future. Maximise utilization of space and materials on a very small site (96m2). Demonstrate a variety of sustainability technologies and principles. Provide a flexible dwelling suitable for a range of occupancy types.
STRATEGY The existing terrace comprised a living room and bedroom in a hip roofed form to the street frontage with a kitchen and bathroom in a skillion roofed structure to the rear. The entire footprint was retained, but the interior was modified to relocate access to the side lane, provide an ensuite to the front room, convert the second room to a kitchen/ meals, allowing the remainder to be a living room opening to the rear courtyard garden. A new addition was constructed at the first floor, comprising bedroom, ensuite, study and deck.
- Existing fittings and materials not required were sold on ebay, or given away, minimizing landfill.
- Materials were reused-Bricks, floorboards, Oregon roofing (reused in gate and screens), corrugated iron, cistern brackets
- Design provided for northern orientation of living area, and minimal east and west windows.
- First floor overhangs ground floor windows to provide summer shading.
- Internal thermal mass provided by polished concrete slab flooring.
- External cladding is made from corrugated, compressed waste sawdust.
- Timber used is either plantation or recycled.
- Lighting throughout is by LEDs or CFGs, installed capacity is just 200w.
- Timber windows use 6mm laminated glass.
- Rainwater is collected from the whole roof to 2 tanks, one supplies the wcs, roof garden and the laundry, the other irrigates the rear garden
- Hotwater heating is by gas boosted solar panel.
- Space heating is by solar preheated gas hydronic.
- 1kw of grid connected PV panels on the roof.
- R2 wall insulation, R4 ceiling insulation
- Ceiling fan
- Cross ventilation to first floor level
- Rear garden includes fruit trees, vegetable garden and 3 bantam chooks.
- A simple rack system provides a roof garden in containers, with water recirculated.
- Energy and water efficient appliances and fittings have been utilized throughout.
RESULTS Water use is 87ltres per day (last bill) Gas usage is near zero in summer. To date, 1963 kw of electricity have been generated, of which 1217 kw has been supplied to the grid. (in about 12 months) The garden supplies herbs constantly and last summer saw a continuous supply of tomatoes and zucchinis. The chooks average 10 eggs per week, allowing for 'down time'.
OTHER BENEFITS By relocating access to the side lane elevation, the resulting improved casual surveillance of the lane has caused a marked reduction in graffiti. The rear addition continues and enhances the rhythm of two storey ‘stables’ type buildings in Keeley Lane. The project continues to generate positive comments from neighbours and passers by. The house was shortlisted for this year's Dulux Colour Awards, and was featured in an article in Green Magazine.
(August 2011) (
